2012 ANNUAL REPORT D E V E L O P I N G
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Fellow Citizens, As I reflect on 2012, I cannot help but feel a very real sense of excitement. Over the span of twelve months, Alabamians deliberated on issues of public concern, developed the infrastructure necessary to effectively make decisions together, and worked to build civic capacity in communities across the state. We are well on our way to increasing the civic health of Alabama, while consistently emphasizing the importance of public capital. Annual reports are intended to summarize the work that was completed over the span of an entire year, while also measuring the impact of that work. I hope that by reading this report, you gain insight into our signature programs, while also recognizing that we are working to communicate our impact in measurable terms. The Mathews Center sponsors non-advocacy, non-partisan programs and projects that are focused on civic and community engagement, which means we face significant challenges when measuring the quantitative impact of our work. That being said, the National Conference on Citizenship, Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts, and University of Alabama’s New College have all assisted us in establishing a baseline measurement of our state’s civic health--the Alabama Civic Health Index. The Civic Health Index provides data and analysis related to political action, social connectedness, volunteerism, and public work. The Mathews Center primarily focuses on public work, which is defined as “working with others to solve a problem or improve something through the process of deliberation and action.� According to the U. S. Census Current Population Survey data, 6.7% of Alabamians say they attended meetings and worked with neighbors to solve problems in 2010. This number is higher than the national average (4.7%), but it still shows us that we have a lot of work to do. Throughout 2012, the Center partnered with community conveners across the state to bring Alabamians together to make decisions and take action on issues of concern (public work!). Whether in a workshop, a learning exchange, or a forum, citizens were encouraged to find common ground, weigh costs and consequences, express concerns, and look for opportunities to collaborate. The Center would not exist without our statewide partnerships, and we are endlessly thankful for these productive relationships. Let’s be proud of the work that was done by citizens in 2012, and let’s prepare to work together in 2013 to increase Alabama’s civic health!
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DAV I D M AT T H E W S C E N T E R f o r C I V I C L I F E
Chris McCauley, Executive Director
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life
We work to foster civic infrastructure for more effective civic engagement and public decision making, the infrastructure necessary for us to answer, “ What would work better in our communities if we worked better together?”
The David Mathews Center for Civic Life is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that works with citizens who want to make positive, innovative decisions that lead to action in their communities on issues that concern them. The Center works to encourage sustainable community practices that are aimed at building and preserving a healthy democracy. We do this through signature programs such as Alabama Issues Forums, Teachers’ Institute, Citizens’ Congress, and Coaching Community Innovation Workshops. We take a non-advocacy, non-partisan approach to facilitating the important work that citizens must do to maintain a civic environment that promotes engagement. The Center honors the life and work of David Mathews, a native of Grove Hill, Alabama and president and CEO of the Kettering Foundation in Dayton, Ohio. Our offices are housed at the American Village in Montevallo, Alabama, because we share their passion for educating the next generation of citizens.
For more information, contact: The David Mathews Center for Civic Life P.O. Box 6 Montevallo, AL 35115 Phone: (205) 665-9005 Email: cmccauley@mathewscenter.org www.mathewscenter.org
Report Authors: Chris McCauley, Executive Director, David Mathews Center for Civic Life Cristin Foster, Assistant Program Director, David Mathews Center for Civic Life Ashley Kontos, Director of Community-Based Research, University of Alabama New College
Report Editor: Dr. Glenda Conway, University of Montevallo
Report Designer: Ideogramstudio.com
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Mathews Center staff authored a comprehensive report on the project cycle using AIF 2010–2011 recorded notes, forum reflections, audio recordings, and post-forum questionnaires. The report, entitled Our Community, Our Future: The Role of Citizens in Solving the High School Dropout Problem, outlines seven major themes that emerged during the forum series and summarizes the quantitative data gathered from the 750 post-forum questionnaires forum participants completed. In total, forty forums were convened in thirty counties with approximately 1,000 Alabamians.
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Alabama Issues Forums (AIF) is designed to bring Alabama citizens together to deliberate and take action on issues of public concern. In a deliberative forum, citizens weigh choices carefully, consider tradeoffs and consequences thoughtfully, and make decisions together.
AIF 2010–2011 concluded on February 1, 2012 with a forum at the Chamber of Commerce in Jasper, Alabama. Senator Greg Reed and the Chamber convened the engaging forum with close to 25 citizens representing schools, nonprofits, industry, and the community. Participants considered the approaches to solving the issue, weighed tradeoffs and consequences, and found common ground on a number of themes. Ideas for “innovation” and moving “out of the box” dominated deliberation on all three approaches.
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Alabama Issues Forums
Alabamians identified the dropout situation as the public issue for AIF 2010-2011. After selecting the issue, the Mathews Center worked with 170 Alabamians at “Citizens’ Congress 2010” to name and frame a deliberative, three-approach issue guide entitled Dropouts: What Should We Do?
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The Mathews Center unveiled the report on March 6, 2012, when approximately 80 citizens gathered at Auburn University-Montgomery’s Taylor Center for Our Community, Our Future: The Role of Citizens in Solving the High School Dropout Problem. The agenda included an overview of the report by Mathews Center staff; presentations by the Phenix City Future Problem Solvers, Yes We Can! Dothan/Dothan City Schools, and Alabama Public Television on the actions they are taking to address the dropout issue; and an engaging luncheon keynote address by Dr. Shelley Stewart, president and CEO of o2 Ideas and founder of the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation. Dr. Stewart spoke of the importance of positive relationships in helping students graduate from high school. He encouraged audience members to “reach out” and take an interest in a young person who might need encouragement and support.
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AIF 2012 - 2013 After the release of Our Community, Our Future, the Mathews Center immediately transitioned into preparation for Alabama Issues Forums 2012– 2013. In 2011, documentaries, websites, advocacy groups, nightly news segments, and conferences/summits raised public awareness around the bullying issue--leading to an outcry for community-based solutions. In fact, during AIF 2010–2011, several dropout forum participants cited bullying as a community issue that could no longer be ignored. As a result, the Mathews Center chose to focus on the issue of bullying for AIF 2012–2013.
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As with all AIF project cycles, the Mathews Center sought the help of Alabama citizens in naming and framing the issue. To garner citizen aid in developing the bullying issue book, Mathews Center staff convened a workshop for Alabamians at the 2nd Annual Anti-Bullying Summit entitled “Be a Hero, Take a Stand.” The Summit is hosted by Auburn University’s Office of Professional and Continuing Education and the Truman Pierce Institute. Twenty-five citizens participated in the Mathews Center workshop, entitled “Citizens’ Congress: Naming and Framing the Bullying Issue,” on July 12, 2012. Workshop participants named and framed the bullying issue by analyzing and sharing what they hold valuable in relation to the issue. Participants shared concerns and clustered those concerns by identifying common themes. Possible solutions and consequences to consider were discussed for all three approaches, and, by the end of the session, a working draft was developed. The final framework is entitled Bullying: What is it? How do we prevent it? The framework is designed to spark deliberation and prompt citizens to make decisions to act together in their communities to address bullying. The Mathews Center does not advocate a particular approach in the issue book. Instead, neutral moderators and recorders encourage deliberation by asking questions and employing practices included in the David Mathews Center Moderator Development Handbook. Upon completion and publication of the issue guide, Mathews Center staff began working with citizens across Alabama to organize and convene AIF forums on the bullying issue. The response across the state has been overwhelming. As of December 31, 2012, the Mathews Center had already partnered with citizens in Baldwin, Choctaw, Dallas, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes, Mobile, Montgomery, Pike, Shelby, and Washington counties to convene 41 forums with approximately 900 Alabamians. Conveners include librarians, educators, community organizations, Alabama Cooperative Extension Coordinators, and many others. All conveners will be listed and acknowledged in the comprehensive report.
AIF 2012–2013 is well on its way to creating a statewide conversation on the bullying issue! PARTNERSHIP with DRAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
AIF PRESENTATIONS
The Community and Civic Engagement Initiative of the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University worked with the Mathews Center to develop a unique partnership with Drake Middle School in Auburn, AL. This initiative introduced students to public deliberation and provided an opportunity for them to participate in AIF 2012–2013.
During 2012, Mathews Center staff presented on Alabama Issues Forums at state and national conferences. In June 2012, Mathews Center staff presented at the American Democracy Project/The Democracy Commitment National Meeting in San Antonio, TX on the AIF 2010–2011 dropout forum series. The presentation provided insight into the role of public deliberation in civic life and the important outcomes that emerge when citizens make commitments to act together. In October 2012, the Mathews Center presented on the AIF 2012–2013 bullying forum series at the Social Studies Council of Alabama’s Annual Conference in Birmingham, AL. The presentation introduced participants to AIF 2012–2013 and provided them with the tools they need to convene forums on bullying in their classrooms, schools, and communities.
Dr. Mark Wilson, Director of Civic and Community Engagement Initiatives in Auburn’s College of Liberal Arts, worked with Drake Middle School Social Studies teacher/coordinator Beverly Helm to schedule forums with Drake’s five sixth-grade social studies teachers. The Mathews Center and its partners moderated and recorded forums on bullying at Drake Middle School on October 22, 24, 26, 29, and 31, 2012. Altogether, a total of twenty-five classes and over 600 students participated in Alabama Issues Forums at Drake Middle School. Drake Middle School administrators, teachers, and students reacted positively to the forum series. During deliberations, students examined multiple approaches to addressing the issue, related personal stories on bullying, and worked through tensions and tradeoffs. The students focused much of their energy on thinking through effective reporting strategies and on addressing root causes of bullying through school and community-based solutions.
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Teachers’ Institute is designed to equip teachers with the understanding, tools, and skills to enhance lifelong civic learning and increase student engagement in the classroom. The Mathews Center convened two Teachers’ Institutes in 2012. On January 24th and 25th, 2012, thirty middle and high school teachers gathered at the American Village for the 4th Annual National Issues Forums in the Classroom Teachers’ Institute. The Institute, sponsored by the Mathews Center and directed by Sparks Consulting Inc., introduced teachers from the Birmingham City School System to deliberative decisionmaking and strategies for implementing deliberative practices in the classroom. Dr. Dorothy E. Battle, University of Cincinnati, also shared useful insights and strategies for using public deliberation in the classroom. Additional support was provided by Dr. Boyd Rogan, Director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Region-V In-Service Education Center; Dr. Yvette Richardson, District IV Alabama State Board of Education; and Dr. Dennis Bega, Region V Director US Department of Education, Atlanta, Georgia.
On November 13th and 14th, 2012, the Mathews Center and A+ Education Partnership convened and facilitated a second Teachers’ Institute entitled “Teachers’ Institute: Civility and Deliberation in the Classroom.” Twenty educators, representing six public school systems from across the state, enthusiastically engaged with the interactive exercises and presentations designed to introduce them to public deliberation and deliberative practices. Teachers’ Institute participants represented the following schools: Discovery Middle School, Greenville High School, Hoover High School, James Clemens High School, Montevallo Middle School, Paul W. Bryant High School, Helena Middle School, and Tarrant High School. At “Teachers’ Institute: Civility and Deliberation in the Classroom,” participants took part in a deliberative forum, developed their
moderating and recording skills with the aid of the DMC Moderator Development Handbook, listened to engaging presentations on various aspects of public deliberation, and created classroom resources for implementing deliberative practices in their classrooms. Mathews Center staff partnered with Ms. Julie Caine, Shelby County teacher and DMC Research Associate, to develop a comprehensive binder of teacher resources for the Institute. The resources include a participant resource book, AIF and National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) issue books, correlation of AIF and NIFI materials to state and national standards, lesson plans, and the DMC Moderator Development Handbook.
50 HIGH SCHOOL & MIDDLE SCHOOL
TEACHERS Gathered at American Village for Teachers’ Institutes
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Students’ Institute The Mathews Center convened its first annual Students’ Institute on November 15 & 16, 2012 at the University of Montevallo John W. Stewart Student Retreat Center. The Mathews Center partnered on the program with Mr. Ron Holsombeck, Gi"ed Resource Class teacher at Montevallo Middle School; and Dr. Hollie Cost, Professor of Special Education & Service Learning Coordinator, Department of Service Learning and Community Engagement at the University of Montevallo.
Thirty students from the Gifted Resource Class (GRC) at Montevallo Middle School participated in the two-day Institute. Inspired by Dr. Mark Wilson’s “Students as Citizens: An Experience in Civic Life” program, the Institute provided the students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of citizenship and to develop skills for more effective civic engagement. After engaging in exercises and activities designed to sharpen their civic skills and increase understanding of what it means to be an active citizen, students were tasked with naming and framing an issue of public concern for their community. The students identified “Retaining Youth” as an issue of concern for citizens of Montevallo. The students framed three approaches and outlined numerous examples of what can be done and consequences to consider.
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The lively group of students brought a thoughtful energy to exploring citizenship. At the end of the workshop, students overwhelmingly expressed that “…no matter how young you are, you can still be involved in your community.” The Mathews Center looks forward to convening a number of community forums in early 2013 to give citizens across Montevallo the opportunity to deliberate on the issue that the students named and framed. The Center and the students hope that real actions–driven by collaborative partnerships–emerge as a result of the forums.
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Coaching Community Innovation Workshops Coaching Community Innovation (CCI) workshops are designed to improve citizens’ capacities to make innovative decisions, to secure commitments to act together, and to learn from experiences. The Mathews Center conducted several CCI workshops in 2012. The workshops focused on moderator development and naming and framing issues of public concern. MODERATOR DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
NAMING AND FRAMING IN MONROEVILLE
The Mathews Center conducted seven Moderator Development workshops in 2012. Moderator Development Workshops are one-day gatherings that feature an abbreviated forum, an interactive discussion of moderating techniques and practices, and a mock forum for participants to practice their newly developed moderating and recording skills. Workshop participants use the DMC Moderator Development Handbook to guide their workshop experience.
Throughout the summer of 2012, the Mathews Center conducted a series of workshops in Monroeville, Alabama focused on naming and framing an issue of public concern. The series developed as a result of a partnership between the Mathews Center and the Monroeville/Monroe County Leadership Now Class of 2012. The workshops focused on naming and framing a deliberative framework on improving public schools in Monroe County.
The Mathews Center partnered with the following organizations to convene Moderator Development workshops at the American Village in Montevallo, AL in 2012: Alabama Public Television/ American Graduate, A+ Education Partnership, and the Monroeville/Monroe County Chamber of Commerce. Moderator Development workshops also were conducted with the Truman Pierce Institute at Auburn University, the Dallas County Cooperative Extension Office, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Jean O’Connor-Snyder undergraduate interns, and the Troy University Office of Service Learning and Civic Engagement. All together, approximately 70 Alabamians participated in DMC Moderator Development workshops during 2012.
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The workshops gave Monroe County citizens an opportunity to raise their concerns related to improving public schools in the county, to cluster those concerns through identifying three approaches to addressing the issue, and to think through examples of what might be done and consequences to consider for each approach. The resulting deliberative framework contains three approaches to solving the issue and an introductory essay by Dr. Kathy Murphy, superintendent of the Monroe County Schools. Upon completion of the issue guide, eight Monroe County citizens participated in a Moderator Development workshop convened by the Mathews Center at the American Village. Additional forums using the new issue guide will be convened in spring 2013.
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Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship The Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship is a signature program that draws students from institutions of higher education from across the state of Alabama. It is named in honor of Jean O’Connor-Snyder, director of the University of Alabama Capstone Men and Women Program from 1969 to 1975. Throughout 2012, Jean O’Connor Snyder Interns engaged in a variety of meaningful projects related to civic and community engagement. Interns produced a documentary on voting rights in south Alabama, moderated forums, facilitated learning exchanges, and assisted in authoring a nationally published report on the civic health of the state of Alabama – among many other projects. The Mathews Center partnered with eight higher education institutions in 2012, and many of the collaborative learning agreements are continuing through spring 2013. The campuses that participated in 2012 include the University of Alabama, Stillman College, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Montevallo, Auburn University, Tuskegee University, the University of South Alabama, and Troy University. At the University of Alabama, five students came together to research and develop a discussion guide on healthcare options available to Alabamians. The students also hosted a community event with renowned author and journalist T. R. Reid. Mr. Reid came to the University to speak about health care and his recent book, The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. The event was held at the University of Alabama Biology Building and was attended by approximately 85 people.
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Another group of interns at University of Alabama had the chance to partner with the National Conference on Citizenship, Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts, and the Mathews Center to author the 2011 Alabama Civic Health Index. These four students analyzed data, reflected on their experiences as Alabama citizens, and assisted in developing narrative summaries for the Index. A copy of the report is currently available on the David Mathews Center website. Currently, the University of Alabama interns are working to write issue guides for use in elementary school classrooms. They also are working with the Osher Life Long Learning Institute to update and adapt the National Issues Forums Institute issue book entitled The Energy Problem and Choices for the Future. At Stillman College, journalism students have been working with a local radio station, WTUG-FM, and newspaper, Tuscaloosa News, to report on public issues being addressed by Alabama Issues Forums. In spring 2012, the students reported on the dropout situation in Tuscaloosa County, and, in fall 2012, they reported on bullying in the community. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, interns have been working on a program called “Film and Deliberation.” This project brings community members and university students together to watch a documentary and deliberate on the issue addressed by the film. Past topics have included the national debt, American healthcare, and the dropout situation.
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We also want to thank the wonderful faculty mentors at each campus! University of Alabama AS H LEY KONTOS, M S Director of Community Based Research
Auburn University MAR K WI LSON, PH D Community and Civic Engagement Coordinator, College of Liberal Arts
KR I STI N BOGG S, M SW Associate Director, Global and Community Leadership Honors Program
Troy University
University of Montevallo
JONATHAN CE LLON, M E D Coordinator of Service Learning and Civic Engagement
CLAR K H U LTQU I ST, PH D Professor of History
University of South Alabama
HOLLI E COST, PH D Professor of Special Education, & Service Learning Coordinator, Department of Service Learning and Community Engagement
Tuskegee University M UJAH S HAKI R, PH D Program Director & Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
JAM E S AUCOI N, PH D Chair of the Department of Communication
Stillman College STE PH E N JACKSON, MA Professor of Journalism
UAB interns also are focusing their efforts on a campus-wide program entitled Campus Issues Forums. The program, modeled after Alabama Issues Forums, incorporates naming and framing, moderating, and public deliberation. Auburn University interns have been working with sixth grade teachers at Drake Middle School to host bullying forums using the Alabama Issues Forums bullying issue guide. The middle school students were receptive and provided a much-needed voice in the statewide bullying discussion. Auburn interns also are organizing an oral history project on the desegregation of public schools in Macon County. This study will contribute to the work that is being done by the Tuskegee Human and Multicultural Center. At the University of Montevallo three students are working closely with the Mathews Center to assist with Alabama Issues Forums and other signature programs. In 2012, interns convened and moderated forums, facilitated conversations with middle school students at Students’ Institute, and assisted with Teachers’ Institute. Tuskegee University interns worked with the local community to develop a series of sustained dialogue sessions centered on the cultural and historical significance of the U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study in Tuskegee. Meetings were held to discuss the impact the study had on the community. Students developed community events and programming along with dialogues to further develop a collaborative relationship between the University and the citizens of Tuskegee.
This fall marked the first Jean O’Connor-Snyder Intern project at the University of South Alabama. The interns conducted interviews and developed a documentary entitled The Future is in Your Hands. The documentary provides an oral history of the struggle for voting rights and civil rights in Mobile, Alabama. After completing the documentary, the students, with the assistance of the League of Women Voters, hosted viewings and discussions in Mobile with local high schools and community groups. The Future is in Your Hands was featured at the South Alabama Film Festival and won first place in the category of short film. Troy University is another new campus partner for the Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Program. At Troy, the First Year Learning Communities are working together to further develop the civic education and student-centered civic action at Troy University. In fall 2012, they covered a range of topics including Environmental Stewardship, Youth & Education, Internationalization and the Flattening of the Modern World, and Civic Leadership. This program will continue into spring 2013 with a semester of service in which interns will plan and host forums on campus, develop issue maps, and present the information to local schools and citizens. We have enjoyed working with each of these students and look forward to the continued success of these programs throughout 2013.
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Alabama Civic Health Index In early 2012, the Mathews Center partnered with the University of Alabama’s New College, Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts, and the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) to author the 2011 Alabama Civic Health Index (ACHI). The ACHI provides data and analysis of four key indicators of citizen engagement in the state—Political Action, Social Connectedness, Volunteerism, and Public Work.
In an attempt to stimulate further conversation, decision-making, and action related to Alabama’s civic health, the Mathews Center began disseminating the ACHI across the state through a variety of mediums.
Motivated by the data contained in the ACHI, a group of students from Notasulga High School and Booker T. Washington High School in Macon County entered the National Civic Data Challenge sponsored by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC). The Challenge is a national contest aimed at highlighting what citizens and groups can do with raw civic health statistical data. The Macon County students
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11 .7% are members of a Male 10 .4 % mentoring program White 9. 9% with Auburn University Female 9.3% students through the Civic and Employed 8.4% African Am Community Engagement Initiative in erican 8.3% Single, Ne ver Marrie the College of Liberal Arts. The mentoring program is d 7.0% Unemploy ed 3. 1% funded in part by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. With the help of Mobile Studio artist Dan Neil and Auburn University landscape architecture proHowever , citizens can contin fessor Jocelyn Zanzot, the students made posters from groups, bo ue to wor th nonpro k together fit and faHite handmade paper, screen-printed images and su messages to solve pr es they face ha based, ac oblems in daily. One ross the st l their com t such grouh related to civic health on them, and awardedthethe ate work w Matpostmunities. hews Cente p isn the Dav ith citizens I r ha id Mathew s d w to address or do to ke e d ers to civic spaces across Macon County. The students address th s Center fo with citize x partic ns across e drop-out r Civic Life the state of situation in . During th used their county name (“Macon”) as a verb to highlight Alabama di e las their comm scussing w unities. hat citizen four civic health data points. They presented a framed copy of the posters to the Macon County Commission as a permanent display in the Macon County Courthouse. The students received an Honorable Mention from NCoC for their exceptional work!
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The Mathews Center unveiled the ACHI at an event entitled “A Conversation on Alabama’s Civic Health featuring Dr. Robert Putnam.” Citizens, civic leaders, university faculty, higher education administrators, and students from across Alabama gathered at the Alabama Department of Archives and History for the event. The evening featured an overview of the ACHI by DMC Executive Director Chris McCauley, a presentation by NCoC Chief Program Officer Kristen Campbell, and a keynote address by renowned social scientist Dr. Robert Putnam, Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and author of Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. In his address, Dr. Putnam provided insight on how social bonds affect our civic and physical health and on the importance of strengthening community.
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Given the fast pace of today’s society, it Alabama is importan by Race 4,779,73 t to note that Ala14%bama’s citize These two ns import ant 6 Age 65 labama Po indicators & Over problems 34 % of at tend pulation show that Under ing meeti Alabamians Age immediate 25 ng s and Age2745-% take 7 surroundin si.8 gnifi% wor64 king w cant pride gs. ith neigh in their co labama Un m employm m un 26 % itAgeie25-s44and re ent Rate Alabama sponsi Rates of Attending Public M eetings, 2 01 0
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Understanding the civic indicators in the ACHI and working to improve the state’s rates of participation are vital to developing healthy and resilient communities. Alexis de Tocqueville sums up why measurements of citizen engagement are vital: “The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.”1
27% African American
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Political Action consists of voting, contacting or visiting public officials, discussing politics frequently, and buying or boycotting products. Alabama ranks tenth in the nation for discussing politics frequently, but sinks to fifty-first nationally in rates of contacting or visiting public officials. Alabamians perform quite well on the Social Connectedness indicator, which includes eating dinner with other members of one’s household, doing favors for neighbors a few times a week or more, talking with neighbors a few times a week or more, and connecting with family and friends online a few times a week or more. In exchanging favors with neighbors and talking with neighbors a few times a week or
In addition to the Troy Public Radio presentations, Mathews Center staff developed a brief ACHI presentation for civic and community groups. DMC Assistant Program Director Cristin Foster presented on the ACHI to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services/Economic and Community Development Institute training meeting on October 2, 2012 in Prattville, Alabama. Approximately 70 ACES Coordinators attended the presentation. Foster also presented on the ACHI at the Alabama Poverty Project’s Higher Education Alliance summer workshop entitled “Developing a Long Term Vision to Unlock Alabama’s Potential.” Held on July 24, 2012 at Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, the workshop drew approximately 70 citizens from across Alabama. Foster also presented on the ACHI to members of the Junior League of Birmingham Executive Board on June 25, 2012.
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more, Alabama ranks 4th and 7th in the nation respectively, but could improve in its rates of internet connectivity (49th in the nation). Public Work—attending meetings and working with neighbors to solve problems and improve something in the community—is rare in the United States (only 4.7% of Americans engage in public work). Alabamians report a higher rate of engaging in Public Work (6.3%).
After unveiling the report, the Mathews Center worked with Troy Public Radio to make the ACHI data available to their listening audience. DMC Executive Director Chris McCauley and Dr. Mark Wilson, Director of Community and Civic Engagement Initiatives in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University, presented on the civic indicators contained in the ACHI on Troy Public Radio’s “Community Focus” program on three occasions.
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“The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens.”
Accordin g to 2010 Census Am Commun erican ity Surve y, Alabama growing ’s populat from past ion — years — Approxim reached ately 70% 4,779,73 of Alaba whereas 6. mians are 27% are White, Afr ican Ameri Asian, an d 2% ide ca n, 1.0 ntify as oth % approxim er. Furth ately 4% ermore, identify as Latino. A Hispanic little more or than a thi Alabamian rd (34%) s are unde of r the age a little ove of 25, wh ra ereas and 45-64 quarter are age 25 -44 (26%) (27%). Ap proximate Alabamian ly 14 s are age 65 and old 3 % of Furtherm er. ore, Janua ry 2012 Bureau of data from Labor Sta the tistics sho unemplo yment rat ws a 7.8% e for Alaba ma. 4
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America. Edited by Richard D. Heffner. (New York: New American Library, 1956)
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Additional Programming SOUTH ALABAMA FORUM SERIES
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OAK GROVE
The Mathews Center facilitated a series of public forums sponsored by the Community Foundation of South Alabama (CFSA) between September 20, 2012 and October 31, 2012. The forums focused on identifying community-based economic development assets in the following eight south Alabama counties: Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington.
Although each county identified assets unique to their communities, several common themes emerged. Forum participants in each county stressed the importance of training the next generation’s workforce and promoting their existing economic-development assets. One participant in Choctaw County summed up the goal of each county by stating: “I want them [young people] to find the good life here.”
Throughout December 2011, CFSA and the Mathews Center moderated forums in six south Alabama counties focused on prioritizing community concerns. During the forum series, economic development/ economic prosperity emerged as the issue of greatest concern in the eight-county region CFSA serves. The 2012 forum series provided south Alabama citizens an opportunity to identify community-based economic development assets in each county. At each forum, citizens deliberated on the benefits and costs of each asset and worked to identify common ground for immediate and future action.
The Mathews Center and CFSA worked with citizens to convene forums in all eight counties. Forum conveners included: Reid State Technical College, the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce, the Baldwin County Housing Alliance, the City of Thomasville, the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross (Mobile), the Monroeville/Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington County Public Library. Over 150 south Alabamians participated in the eight forums in the series. Mathews Center staff submitted a comprehensive report outlining the emerging themes of the forum series to the Community Foundation of South Alabama on December 11, 2012.
During June and July 2012, the Mathews Center partnered with the Town of Oak Grove to sponsor an embedded internship experience at Comet Grove Community Garden. Comet Grove provides fresh produce for several hundred families across Talladega County each summer. The garden also provides public space for citizens of Oak Grove and surrounding areas to communicate with one another, make decisions together, and take action on issues of public concern. Mayor Charles Merkel and Carolyn Zielger, former Clerk of the Town of Oak Grove and coordinator of Comet Grove, oversee Comet Grove Community Garden and the intern. Comet Grove Summer 2012 Interns, Keith and Elaine Davis, worked alongside Carolyn Ziegler and the citizens of Oak Grove to coordinate volunteers, work in the garden, and build partnerships throughout the community. Keith Davis described the essence of Comet Grove as “…like a family. There is a feeling of camaraderie among the workers and volunteers, and many people feel comfortable bringing their friends and family to…the garden.” Once harvesting began on June 28, 2012, Comet Grove yielded 1,000 pounds of produce per week, nearly twice as much as the 2011 weekly average. Comet Grove met the nutritional needs of 175 Talladega County citizens every week during the summer harvest.
ALABAMA SOUTHERN GROWTH POLICIES BOARD FORUM On April 3, 2012, Mathews Center staff facilitated a forum with twelve citizens from Auburn/ Lee County, Alabama at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities (Pebble Hill). Sponsored by Pebble Hill, the City of Auburn, the Community Writing Center, and the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, the forum focused on building a competitive workforce. Forum participants used the Southern Growth Policies Board’s (SGPB) discussion guide entitled, Building a Competitive Workforce: Making Decisions for Your Community to prompt deliberation. Building a Competitive Workforce highlights five major themes, or approaches, that southerners identified during a SGPB forum series in 2007 as most important to developing a more competitive workforce in the region. Those five themes include the following initiatives: create a culture of learning, get more parents involved, strengthen soft skills, expand knowledge of careers and education options, and facilitate collaboration between different workforce players.
After deliberating on all five themes, forum participants found common ground in identifying the role the entire community must play in order to produce a competitive workforce. One participant remarked that all of the community resources, “until brought together, are just potential.” Forum participants asked themselves, “How do we get everybody headed in the same direction?”
SUPER EMERGING SCHOLARS FORUM On June 28, 2012, the Mathews Center facilitated a forum with seventeen students and a number of community members at the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities in Auburn, Alabama. The forum focused on the issue of preparing young people for the jobs of the future. The students in attendance were participants in the Alabama Humanities Foundation’s SUPER Emerging Scholars program at Auburn University. Using the NIF issue guide, Preparing Today’s Kids for Tomorrow’s Jobs: What Should Our Community Do?, forum participants sought to answer one overarching question: “What and how should young people be taught to best equip them for tomorrow’s workplace and to help strengthen the economy of the communities they live in?”
The issue guide outlines three approaches to addressing the issue. Approach one, “A Firm Foundation,” advocates emphasizing basic, transferrable skills to prepare young people for jobs at any level. Approach two, “Academic Competition,” stresses academic competitiveness; a strong emphasis on math, science, and technology; and rewards for academic rigor and success. Approach three, “The Community First,” recommends preparing young people for local jobs and increasing partnerships between business and education to increase community prosperity. Forum participants thoughtfully weighed costs and tradeoffs for each approach, shared personal stories, and worked through tensions. To conclude the deliberation, forum participants reflected on common themes that had emerged, what they had learned about their own views and the perspectives of others, and how they could take action in their communities on the issue of preparing young people today for the jobs of tomorrow.
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David Mathews Center for Civic Life convened & moderated public forums in
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Board of Directors 2012 Board Officers: Ray C. Minor, Chairman of the Board – Scholar in Residence, Kettering Foundation Robert H. McKenzie (Ph.D.), President and Chief Executive Officer – Senior Associate, Kettering Foundation Stanley J. Murphy (J.D.), Vice President – Murphy & Murphy, LLC Sanford E. Gunter (J.D.), Treasurer and Secretary – Shields & Gunter, Attorneys
Board Members: Steve R. Berryman (J.D.) – Attorney at Law Marsha Folsom – Chief Executive Officer, Resource Fiber/Alabama, LLC Jim Hall (Ph.D) – New College, University of Alabama William Muse (Ph.D.) – President, National Issues Forums Institute Cathy Randall (Ph.D.) – Petus Randall Holdings, LLC Joe Sumners (Ph.D.) – Director, Economic and Community Development Institute, Auburn University Dale Wallace (J.D.) - Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, LCC Tom Walker – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The American Village Mark Berte – Executive Director, Alabama Coastal Foundation Joffre Whisenton (Ph.D.) – Joffre T. Whisenton and Associates, Inc. David Wilson (Ph.D.) - President, Morgan State University
David Mathews Center for Civic Life Staff 2012 Christopher McCauley – Executive Director Cristin Foster – Assistant Program Director
Associate Staff Ashley Kontos – Director of Community-Based Research, University of Alabama New College Julie Caine – Research Associate Robert Turner – Research Associate
this past year
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